Construction Projects Moving Along Steadily

Heidi Harris/Times-Record
Work on Ninth Avenue Northwest is moving along steadily. This part of the road should re-open in September.

Chad Petersen from city engineering firm Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson told the Valley City city commission that road construction projects in Valley City are moving along steadily as most are scheduled to wrap up in September and October.

“We have really millions of dollars at work here in the city, getting rid of those pot holes,” Valley City City Administrator David Schelkoph said during Monday’s meeting.

Work began on the Phase I of the hefty Ninth Avenue Northwest reconstruction project three to four weeks ago. This includes the section of Ninth Avenue Northwest from Main Street to approximately Fourth Street Northwest.

Most activity on the project has been seen from Main Street to Second Street. Storm sewer work in that area has been completed. Prime contractor, Lindberg Brothers of Jamestown, has moved forward with curb and gutter as well as the start of concrete pavement.

The part of the roadway under construction, from Main Street to Fourth Street, is currently closed to through traffic, but Petersen expects part of it to open soon. Traffic is detoured along Main Street, Fifth Avenue Northeast and 12th Street North.

“Based on their current schedule, they’re looking at having that first block and a half from Main to Second (streets) open to traffic and back to businesses to regular access by the middle of Sept.,” Petersen said.
The overall amount of underground work remaining should last about four to five weeks. Completion date for this year’s work is Oct. 27, where the road will be completed up to the area by Pioneer Park.

The project, which is a full reconstruction extending from Main Street to 12th Street, is estimated to cost more than $4 million, which is being funded by the city and the area’s taxpayers. Lindberg Brothers was awarded the low bid in June.

Work on the project will include road work on Ninth Avenue Northwest, a transportation enhancement grant funded bike path, retaining wall and work in Pioneer Park.

The remainder of the corridor will be completed in 2013.

Paving improvement district number 98, which includes road patch repair and curb and gutter work to flood-damaged areas deemed ineligible by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has stayed on schedule. These areas include the Swanke addition and its surrounding roads, Chautauqua Boulevard and Sixth Avenue Northeast.

“They’ve been concentrating on all the curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveways and all that work,” Petersen said, adding that they will now be concentrating on patch work.

Work on the project should be complete by the end of September, although the overall completion date isn’t until Oct. 27. The project, which costs over $1 million is funded almost half through the city’s Infrastructure Renewal and Replacement Fund.

Meanwhile, the Sixth Avenue Northeast overlay project is almost complete. Petersen said there’s just a little bit of clean up left and one portion of concrete sidewalk that needs to be replaced due to a crack.

Also close to being done is the paving improvement district number 94 seal coat project, which is contracted by Border States Paving. They should have the over $425,000 project wrapped up by the first part of September.

“The weather has cooperated very well (for all projects),” Petersen said.